We are excited to announce the recent publication of a groundbreaking study led by Prof. Herman Potgieter and Dr. Emmanuel Oke from the Sustainable and Innovative Minerals and Metals Extraction Technology (SIMMET) Research Group at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. The study, titled “Concurrent leaching of copper and cobalt from a copper–cobalt ore using sulfuric and organic acids,” has been featured in the prestigious journal Minerals Engineering.
Published on July 24, 2024, this innovative research explores the use of sulfuric acid, citric acid, and oxalic acid combined with hydrogen peroxide for the efficient and eco-friendly recovery of copper and cobalt from copper–cobalt ore. The study demonstrates significant advancements in leaching efficiency, achieving up to 99.2% for copper and 100% for cobalt under optimal conditions.
The collaborative effort includes contributions from researchers Fortune Mondlane, Noluthando P. Skosana, Samaneh Teimouri, and Joseph K. Nyembwe. This work represents a substantial stride towards sustainable and environmentally benign mineral processing techniques.
Our team employed a combination of x-ray fluorescence (XRF), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDX) for comprehensive ore characterization. The findings reveal that adjusting factors such as time, temperature, and leaching agent concentration can significantly enhance metal recovery efficiencies, making this method a promising alternative to traditional techniques.
This publication not only highlights the innovative capabilities of our research group but also underscores our commitment to advancing sustainable technologies in the field of mineral extraction.
For more details, you can access the full study through the link below:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2024.108853
Stay tuned for more updates and breakthroughs from our research group!